Cloud City

I love art. Call it what you will, aficionado, admirer, enthusiast, I like to look at interesting, inspiring, beautiful things. The first time I stepped foot in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET) was exactly three years ago yesterday, (the day I started writing this post). I went there after walking home from marching in the Columbus Day Parade with my job, put on my iPod and just walked, observed, and reflected. It was beautiful.

Continuing our exploration of beauty on August 21^st, my friend Erika and I walked from the Conservatory Garden to the MET at 82nd and 5th to take in some Monet, Van Gogh and Picasso before we went to dinner later that evening.

Now, if you’ve never had the chance to step foot inside the MET I’ll be the first one to tell you it’s huge, and even with my fantastic sense of direction I manage to get lost every time. Admission into the MET is free, however they recommend a $25 donation for adults…I usually never give more than $5 (sorry MET!)

The actual building itself is massive, two-million-square-foot massive. And today there are over tens of thousands of objects and art on view everyday. The exhibits can be found on the first floor, second floor, third floor, rooftop and mezzanines. The first floor and mezzanines house: The American Wing; Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas; Arms and Armor; Egyptian Art; European Sculpture and Decorative Arts; Greek and Roman Art; Medieval Art; Modern and Contemporary Art; and the Robert Lehman Collection. The second and third floors house: The American Wing; Ancient Near Eastern Art; Art of the Arab Lands, Turkey, Iran; Central Asia, and Later South Asia; Asian Art; Drawings and Prints; European Paintings; Greek and Roman Art; Modern and Contemporary Art, Musical Instruments, 19^th and Early 20^th Century European Paintings and Sculpture; Photographs.

My favorite spots are the Arms and Armor Gallery, Modern and Contemporary Art, and Nineteenth Century European Art. After asking a few kind souls, we found the gallery we were looking for and we met up with Mr. Claude Monet, Mr. Vincent Van Gogh and Mr. Pablo Picasso.

 Bridge over a Pond of Water Lilies

Claude Monet (French, Paris 1840–1926 Giverny)

Date: 1899

Water Lilies

Claude Monet (French, Paris 1840–1926 Giverny)

Bouquet of Sunflowers

Claude Monet (French, Paris 1840–1926 Giverny)

Cypresses

Vincent van Gogh (Dutch, Zundert 1853–1890 Auvers-sur-Oise)

Date: 1889

Sunflowers

Vincent van Gogh (Dutch, Zundert 1853–1890 Auvers-sur-Oise)

Date: 1887

Wheat Field with Cypresses

Vincent van Gogh (Dutch, Zundert 1853–1890 Auvers-sur-Oise)

Date: 1889

Bouquet of Flowers in a Vase

Vincent van Gogh (Dutch, Zundert 1853–1890 Auvers-sur-Oise)

Date: 1890

Dora Maar in an Armchair

Pablo Picasso (Spanish, Malaga 1881–1973 Mougins, France)

Date: 1939

Woman and Musketeer

Pablo Picasso (Spanish, Malaga 1881–1973 Mougins, France)

Date: 1967

We also went up to the special exhibit on the rooftop called Cloud City. Argentinean artist Tomás Saraceno created an environment on the rooftop that, according to the MET website, is an “investigation of expanding the ways in which we inhabit and experience our environment.” Visitors are allowed to walk into, and around the exhibit, which is a mixture of architecture and art. We were not able to get tickets to climb inside the actual structure, but had a great time walking around looking at ourselves from above in the mirrored glass. You can also see the structure from below when walking by the museum in Central Park, however I recommend taking the trip up to visit it. 

It’s amazing the things you can accomplish in one day when you have some free time. I know I’m not the only one who wishes I used my time like this more frequently… they do say our city never sleeps…right? Better start moving. 



**All pictures taken on my iPhone. I do not own any rights to anything.